Volume 2.28 | Jul 30

Obscure Immune Cells Thwart Ticks
A study now shows that basophils help repel bloodthirsty ticks that can spread lethal diseases. The work also introduces a new method for teasing out further immune functions of the often-overlooked cells. [Press release from Science Now discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation]

Researchers Uncover Biological Rationale for Why Intensive Lupus Treatment Works
Researchers show in blood cells that giving very high doses of intravenous corticosteroids early and frequently in the course of the disease is more effective at killing the cells that drive lupus than giving the standard limited intravenous steroids followed by high doses of oral corticosteroids over a period of months. [Press release from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Nature]

Toxic Trio Identified as the Basis of Celiac Disease
Scientists have identified the three protein fragments that make gluten toxic to people with celiac disease. [Press release from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine]

Therapeutic HIV Vaccines Show Promise
Researchers presented the results of a handful of successful, but small, early-phase clinical trials for therapeutic vaccines — once thought to be a dead end for tackling HIV. [Press release from Nature News discussing research presented at the XVIII International AIDS 2010 Conference]

International Stem Cell Plans $10 Million Financing Through European Subsidiary
International Stem Cell Corporation announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with ARG Vermogensverwaltung AG, a German Investment Fund, to create a new European subsidiary to be funded with up to $10 million of capital derived from ARG and other independent sources in Europe. [International Stem Cell Corporation Press Release]

Senate Spending Panel Approves $1 Billion Boost for NIH
A Senate subcommittee matched President Barack Obama’s request for a $1 billion increase in 2011 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). That raise would bring the agency’s total budget to $32 billion, or 3.5% above the 2010 level, according to a statement from the Senate appropriations labor, health, and human services subcommittee. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Takes on New Role in Fight Against Rare Diseases
A government program focusing on rare diseases, the Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases (TRND) program, has launched five pilot projects that are taking the National Institutes of Health in a new direction: developing drugs. TRND will work together with scientists, advocates and others to do the required research and testing on drugs before a compound can be tried in humans in a clinical trial. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NIH Asks for Input on Closing Loophole in Conflict-of-Interest Rule
Responding to yet another flap about the influence of drug companies on biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has decided it needs more time to revise its rules for policing conflicts of interest so that sanctions will move with an investigator if he or she changes institutions. [National Institutes of Health, United States]